1910.156(c)(2): Fire Brigade Training Frequency
Employers must train and educate fire brigade members often enough that each can perform assigned duties satisfactorily and safely. All members must be trained at least annually, and members expected to perform interior structural firefighting must get an education session or training at least quarterly.
Key takeaways
- 1910.156(c)(2) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart L).
- OSHA cited it 77 times in the last 3 years, in 76 inspections, with $14,112 in current penalties.
- Most citations: IL (55), NY (20), CT (1).
- Related part: 1910.156(c) Training and education (153 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.156(c)(2) is one requirement inside 1910.156 Fire brigades, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart L). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(2) The employer shall assure that training and education is conducted frequently enough to assure that each member of the fire brigade is able to perform the member's assigned duties and functions satisfactorily and in a safe manner so as not to endanger fire brigade members or other employees. All fire brigade members shall be provided with training at least annually. In addition, fire brigade members who are expected to perform interior structural fire fighting shall be provided with an education session or training at least quarterly. 77 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.156.
Export the list: 76 inspections cited 1910.156(c)(2) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 29 |
| 2026 | 15 |
Top states: IL (55), NY (20), CT (1), TN (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF BEARDSTOWN - FIRE DEPT. | BEARDSTOWN, IL | $6,000 |
| VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD - FIRE DEPARTMENT | MAYWOOD, IL | $4,000 |
| RURAL/METRO FIRE DEPT., INC. | CHATTANOOGA, TN | $2,025 |
| VILLAGE OF RIDGWAY - FIRE DEPT | RIDGWAY, IL | $1,050 |
| CITY OF HURST - FIRE DEPT | HURST, IL | $396 |
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A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.156(c)(2), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.156(c)(2).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.156(c) Training and education 153 citations
- 1910.156(c)(1) 64 citations
- 1910.156(c)(3) 7 citations
- 1910.156(c)(4) 5 citations
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Frequently asked questions
How often must fire brigade members be trained?
At least annually, and often enough to perform their duties safely.
What about interior structural firefighters?
They must be provided an education session or training at least quarterly.
Is annual training always enough?
Not necessarily. Training must be frequent enough to assure members can perform their duties safely.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.156 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.